TURBONEGRO - I Got Erection 7'' 1995

I wanna start the weekend with a single from a band, I guess, that everyone of you knows and "I Got Erection" is their seventh 7Inch (three different versions exist) from the fantastic Ass Cobra album, and a real cracker. 💣💥💣 Short info at this point: Turbonegro came together as a band in Oslo and started around Christmas 1988. Always surrounded by scandal and controversy, they have broken up, retired and changed members several times. They combines glam, punk and hard rock into a self-described "Deathpunk" musical style. Turbonegro's lyrics often attack political correctness. Their genre of punk has been self-described as deathpunk. The band has stated that their music superseded existing genres, so they dubbed it "Deathpunk" as a way to avoid being pigeonholed into musical groupings they felt they were above. Lyrics referencing the genre choice include "gimme deathpunk baby, and I like it" from the song "Get It On". Sharing characteristics with certain musical predecessors, (Sex Pistols wearing swastikas, etc.), Turbonegro has been praised by some as playing the most up-to-date form of punk with an anarchic blend of humour, shock and sexuality. 💥💣💥 The B-side of this single, Jeg Will Bli Som Jesus, is a Norwegian New Wave classic (originally by Kjøtt), sung by Eugene Chadbourne in 'phonetic' Norwegian. The band is still alive and on tour worldwide.

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ROCKS - Combat Zone 1994

Only album by Rocks on Kangaroo Records and it took a long time for the band to become active again. In 1978 they brought their legendary You'r So Boring EP on Point Blank Records (500 copies) out and and set with that an astonishing exclamation point, 1995 re-issued as CD with bonus tracks. I first came in contact with them through Tepid Spit Artists, an unofficial tape compilation what I acquired from Incognito Records. Short basics: "Rocks, please, never put a “The” in front, were Sydney based Punx which started its life as a three piece in 1976 with childhood friends Bill Webb (a.k.a. Bill Posters) Drums/Lead Vocals, Peter Davie Guitar/Vocals and Steve Vanderschoot Bass/Lead Vocals. Having jammed together after school and on weekends and with their love for early 70’s rock surging through their veins, it was no surprise they would turn to Punk as they forged ahead finding a style to become a band. When bands like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols came along, it was obvious what they had become and they would go on to be one of Sydney’s best loved Punkrock bands..." Combat Zone is twenty-two times fresh sound combined with catchy melodies. Rocks are still active and occur at irregular intervals here and there somewhere. Enjoy the album & the warm rays of the sun with a cold beer.

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VORWÄRTS - A Trip Down Memory Lane 2002

Swiss punk veterans Vorwärts are from the area of Basel, founded by Udi (vocals), RR & Bibä (guitars), Nutty (bass), Roli (drums), and today the oldest Punk combo from Switzerland still playing live. In 1984, when singer Udi and his friends went into the studio for the first time and the result is the very much sought nameless five track 12'', 300 copies exist. Vorwärts already had several years of service under their belt: the band was formed 1979 and Udi remembers his first contact with the punk movement, which was only slowly making its way from London and New York to the Upper Basel area. "When punk was born in 1976/77 we had no idea," he says. It wasn't until two years later that he heard the first songs by the Ramones, The Damned, Clash and Sex Pistols and had pictures in the "Pop/Rocky”or “Musikexpress”. That "simply blown him and his friends away", as he told the bz: "Punk was so much better, more urgent and more important than anything we had heard before." The founding of his own band was "an outbreak, a departure, an undreamt-of freedom". Forward hit the Zeitgeist and were able to record their first successes: with their song TV Generation the quintet made it onto national radio and with a self-made clip (you can find it on YouTube under the title Boring Generation) even on Swiss television. But in their early years, Vorwärts not only met with approval. It belonged then that they were insulted as “Schwuli Söu”, “Gsindel” and “Soupack” because of their appearance - “bright green and black striped jeans, studded belts and bracelets, sprayed shirts, holes in clothes, a lot of leather and so on” the everyday life of the five young men. In 1988 the dissolution followed due to various individual follow-up projects and 1998 the reunion on the occasion of the wedding of a band member and since then they still active and their last record was released two years ago for their 40th year existence! (source: partly bzbasel)

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THE USERS - Now That It's Over 7'' 1979

One more raritiy from Love Child now and they are always welcome on wdthtc, 250 copies exist from this two sided killer and a few words: "We've got our own individual style. Most punk bands are the same as the Ramones... its pathetic. ..The basic ingredients of rock'n'roll are sex drugs and frustration, If we can getamps and get on stage, that's all.  Its a big V sign from us to you." The Users - Chainsaw 5 March/April 1978. - "The Users were from Cambridge and formed in September 1976. Their sound was a mixture of The Stooges, New York Dolls, Rolling Stones and the Sex Pistols. Young and with attitude - plenty of it. Other songs included Russian Roulette, Heart To Heart, Bad Decision, Slow Death (Flaming Groovies) Louie Louie, Moving In A Fast Lane and Red Hot Rag. Cambridge was also home to Lee Wood and his record shop. "..members of The Users, who had been in the shop before, asked me if I could spare the time to come and hear them rehearse. I went along and they were a five piece. I can't remember the details but somehow we decided to make a record together." Lee Wood Punk77 Interview. More details on punk77 and more Kicks In Style are guaranteed.

- Great Thx to Bristolboy -

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GERMS - (GI) 1979

Another classic that needs to be heard is the debut by the Germs, punk from Los Angeles and originally active from 1976 to 1980. The band's main early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and drummer Don Bolles. They released only one album (GI) on Slash Records, produced by Joan Jett, and were featured the following year in Penelope Spheeris' documentary film The Decline Of Western Civilization, which chronicled the Los Angeles punk movement. Germs disbanded following Crash's suicide on December 7, 1980. Info from wiki which says everything:

Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) and Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg) decided to start a band after being kicked out of University High School for antisocial behavior, allegedly for using "mind control" on fellow students. Their original name was "Sophistifuck and the Revlon Spam Queens", but they had to shorten the name as they could not afford that many letters on a T-shirt. The (initially hypothetical) first lineup consisted of Beahm (then known as Bobby Pyn, and later as Darby Crash) on vocals, Ruthenberg (under the name Pat Smear) on guitar, an early member named "Dinky" (Diana Grant) on bass, and Michelle Baer playing drums. This lineup never played in front of a live audience.In April 1976, the band added Lorna Doom (born Teresa Ryan) on bass, with transitional member Dottie Danger (later famous as Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's) on drums. Carlisle never actually played with the band, as she was sidelined by a bout of mononucleosis for an extended period. She was replaced by her friend Donna Rhia (Becky Barton), who played three gigs and performed on their first single. Carlisle remained a friend and helper of the band (she can be heard introducing the band on the Germicide: Live @ the Whiskey recording, produced by Kim Fowley), only leaving because her new band, the Go-Go's, were becoming popular and, as she put it, "I was really disturbed by the heroin that was going on". Nickey Beat, of various noteworthy Los Angeles bands including the Weirdos, also sat in on drums for a time.

The band's first live performance was at the Orpheum Theater. Smear recalled: "We made noise. Darby stuck the mic in a jar of peanut butter. It was a dare, we had no songs or anything! Lorna wore her pants inside out, and Darby covered himself in red licorice...we made noise for five minutes until they threw us off". The Germs initially drew musical influences from Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Ramones, the Runaways, Sex Pistols, and New York Dolls. Early on, Smear was the only musically experienced member; Doom survived early performances by sliding a finger up and down the fretboard of her bass while Rhia generally kept a minimal beat on the bass drum, periodically bashing a cymbal. Early performances were usually marked by raucous crowds made up of the band's friends. As a result, their gigs became notorious for being rowdy and usually verged on a riot.

The end of the band came when Crash, who had become increasingly impatient with drummer Bolles' antics, fired him and replaced him with his friend Rob Henley. Shortly after the Germs split, Crash and Smear formed the short-lived Darby Crash Band. Circle Jerks drummer Lucky Lehrer joined the band on the eve of their first (sold-out) live performance, when during soundcheck, Darby kicked out the drummer they'd rehearsed with. The band, described by Smear as "like the Germs, but with worse players", played only a few gigs to lukewarm reaction before splitting up. Shortly after that, Crash contacted Smear about a Germs "reunion" show, claiming it was necessary to "put punk into perspective" for the punks on the scene. However, Smear has said Crash told him privately he wanted to earn money for heroin with which to commit suicide. Since Crash had described this scenario many times in the past, Smear did not take him seriously. On December 3, 1980, an over-sold Starwood hosted a final live show of the reunited Germs, including Bolles. At one point, Crash told the amazed kids in the audience, "We did this show so you new people could see what it was like when we were around. You're not going to see it again".

Crash committed suicide on December 7, 1980, at age 22. Unreported at the time, Crash had overdosed on heroin in a suicide pact with close friend Casey "Cola" Hopkins, who ended up surviving. She later insisted that he did not intend for her to live, nor did he change his mind at the last minute and intend for himself to live. According to Spin, apocryphal lore has Crash attempting to write "Here lies Darby Crash" on the wall as he lay dying, but not finishing. In reality, he wrote a short note to David "Bosco" Danford that stated, "My life, my leather, my love goes to Bosco". Outside the world of the Germs' fans, news of Crash's death was largely overshadowed by the murder of John Lennon the next day. A local news station mistakenly reported that Crash had died from taking too many sleeping pills.

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MÉTAL URBAIN - Les Hommes Morts Sont Dangereux 1981

 

Before I dedicate myself to football, a small, considerable sound document from the early 80s: "Dead Men Are Dangerous" is the only studio album by the French electro-punk band Métal Urbain. Formed 1976 in Paris and heavily influenced by the Clash and Sex Pistols on one hand, and on the other by an electro approach related to Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed. They relied on heavily distorted guitars and replaced the traditional rock rhythm section of bass guitar/drums with a synthesizer and drum machine, a then-unique approach that foreshadowed the experimental possibilities that were explored by later post-hardcore bands such as Big Black. They were also known for their radical image (the color scheme of albums always being a stark black, white and red), and subversive lyrics sung in French. They were met with some enthusiasm in the United Kingdom, particularly by John Peel and the Rough Trade label. (Métal Urbain's 2nd single Paris Maquis was Rough Trade's first release.). In 1977, their first single "Panik" was named "Single Of The Week" by New Musical Express. They had an enthusiastic but small audience in France, receiving little exposure. The punk rock scene was not as popular in France as it was in the United Kingdom, and they did not interest the French media as British bands like Sex Pistols did. As a result, singer Clode Panik left in December 1978, though the band continued to gig and record with Eric Debris on vocals, and also recording with spin-off bands Metal Boys, and Doctor Mix and the Remix, until 1980, when guitar players brothers Schwartz and Lüger left to form the short-lived band Desperados.

Métal Urbain had focused their efforts on singles and only produced one album during their first period of activity. However, several compilation records were released, gathering their singles with additional material such as BBC sessions and live recordings. Their electro approach was very innovative for its time, and the group are a reference point for such groups as the Jesus and Mary Chain, Bérurier Noir and the producer Steve Albini. The band reunited in 2003 to tour in the United States, and had since toured consistently in France and the rest of Europe. Métal Urbain recorded their second studio album, J'irai Chier Dans Ton Vomi, in 2006, produced by Jello Biafra in San Francisco; a follow up mini-album, Crève Salope, was issued in 2008.

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ALERTA ROJA - Historiko 81-87: La Otra Cara Del Punk 2013

 

Awesome stuff today from Alerta Roja, an Argentine Punk band from Gerli, Buenos Aires and they are considered one of the precursor bands of the genre in this country. In the late 1970s, Argentina was under a bloody military dictatorship. While Punk was rolling in the United States and England, the wave did not slosh into Argentina. At that time, a young man named Pedro Braun, alias "Hari-B", formed the group Los Testicles (1978), which would later become Los Violadores (1980). In that period, "Hari-B" had to perform Military Service, and his colleagues Sergio Gramatica and other members decided to change the name of the group to Los Violadores. From them, other groups quickly appeared, such as Los Psicópatas (1979) or Los Laxantes (1979), with Gamexane, future member of Todos Tus Muertos (1985) on guitar. Los Psicópatas (1979), later called State Of Siege, was initially made up of Pablo Stella on guitar, Fernán Contreras on drums and Daniel García on bass & vocals. After two months of rehearsals, the band would have their first five songs, from which they would choose the ones that would be part of their first demo. In mid-1981 they released the first Simple Punk from Argentina, which would be released months later, after the Falklands War. That demo would be a 7'' under the independent label created by the group itself, Pelmaso Records, produced by Marcelo Gasió, later a keyboardist for the band.

Months before the Malvinas conflict, they had already decided to call themselves Alerta Roja, as a symbol of the political moment that the country was experiencing. In reference to the chosen name, when interviewed on Radio del Plata by Tom Lupo in '83, they would mention that "" Red Is Not The Way Out Either "". During this time, Sergio Spatavecchia joined the band in voice: 11. In the case of Alerta Roja , we first called ourselves The Psychopaths. They censored us. Then we changed into State Of Siege, the same thing happened to us and before Malvinas we put on a Alerta Roja, to reflect the state in which the country lived. People didn't understand punk, and they don't understand it now. We were not Bolsheviks or Nazis. We just sang revolution, we wanted a much more powerful change. We were apolitical, totally anarchists. Alerta Roja wanted to reach the general public "without trading". Basics to the thirty goodies: Fernán (vocals on tracks: 1-19), Mongo (vocals on tracks: 1-26), Pablo (vocals on tracks: 1-19); Pablo (guitars on tracks: 1-26) & Ucci (guitars on tracks: 27-30), Daniel (bass), Fernán (drums), Marcelo (keyboards) and Chiflo (sax). Songs 1 to 19 belong to "Derrumbando La Casa Rosada", recorded in October 1982 at Estudios del Jardín. Songs 20 to 26 belong to "El Llanto Interior", recorded in September 1985 at Avatar Studios and lollies 27 to 30 were recorded live in Cement April 1987.

This great comilation from Pinhead Records shines with historical recordings of the band and they existed and survived under the nose of a violent and oppressive military dictatorship. The band played gigs in Buenos Aires in the early '80s, giving a voice to a generation of angry Latin American youth. After so many years, these thirty tracks are finally getting a proper CD and their influences pulled from music that managed to cross the ocean and fall into the hands of its members, one might hear the Clash, Sex Pistols or Wire seeping from the groves, but don't be surprised if you get a small dose of the Cure as you listen to this gem. Alongside other amazing bands from South America, Alerta Roja reaffirms that despite the conditions and lack of resources, these nations produced some amazing punk music/attitude.

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ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE - We Are...The League 1982

It's time for one more classic and one of my TopTen records. The debut by the Anti-Nowhere League on WXYZ Records, founded 1979 in Kent, thirty miles south-east of central London and after some line-up changes this four; Animal (vocals), Magoo (guitars), Winston (bass) & P.J. (drums) recorded this awesome platter and before I go on, I open a delicious Augustiner Bräu. Hmmmm... tastes delicious! The band name alone inspired me immediately and I love people who express their dislike and dissatisfaction, frustration and above all their emotions, in a clear direct language, and don't be afraid of any stupid critics or mobsters who only interfere and say; 'it doesn't work that way!' or 'you have to change that!' ANL went their way and caused a furore with this album, and that's what I like because, I'm as well. And after nearly forty years, the twelve goodies are still shockingly up-to-date and have retained their bite. That's what I appreciate about the four gents. They broke up in 1989 but come back three years later and they're still active! Many records and Singles were made and I hope, they will stay with us for a long time. Two more decent reviews for you that do it better than me, enjoy!

"The years pass, the wheel of time turns, and the shocking, moral-challenging ne'er-do-wells of one generation eventually seem almost sweet when compared with those of later days. Every so often, though, something will remain almost gloriously offensive and wrong no matter what the future brings; the League's filthy gob of a debut album fulfills that brief, and then some. Musically, there's nothing here to surprise or challenge anybody -- already dated three-chord thrash, smash, and bash at the time of its release, years later it just sounds like the type of stuff folks like Offspring listened to while killing time in rehearsal studios. However, for all of the band's protestations of "being shit," the roar is actually reasonably produced, with a good oomph to it instead of becoming too treble. Every so often the band tries something just a tiny bit different (the slow opening to "Woman," which is almost a late-'50s tearjerker in modern leather gear before everything revs up), but mostly they just do what they do. It's vocalist Animal, though, who transforms the League from being just another band to becoming veritable kings of trash. His rough vocals tackle everybody and everything, not least of all himself and his bandmates; suspect sex, random contempt (the brilliantly titled "[We Will Not] Remember You" and "I Hate...People"), and more just scratch the surface. The group even trashes their own medium, as "Can't Stand Rock'N'Roll" concludes "the man who made it was big and fat." The undisputed highlight, of all things, is a cover of Ralph McTell's folk anthem "Streets Of London". Transforming the sympathetic look at the city's outcasts and dregs into a celebratory anthem of defiance, the League delivers one of the best remakes ever done, almost in spite of itself." (Ned Raggett, AllMusic)

"The most viscous mean-spirited, gratuitously violent punk band to come down the pike in a long time." and stated the album was for "mature adults, this is the best hard-core punk record England has yielded since the Sex Pistols era. Every song features a slamming, inescapable beat to match the freely flung obscenities." (Ken Tucker, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Thirty minutes of outstanding, fresh, ugly and rough punk'n'roll how it could perhaps only be played by the Sex Pistols, but continued in seamless fairways by the amazing Four! "We Are The League..The Anti-Nowhere League..YEAH!"

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XTRAVERTS - So Much Hate 1997

OK, no rib broken just a bruise but it hurts with every movement. I mentioned it briefly yesterday, a fall with the bike and a wasp sting on the back neck.....yes, yesterday was a nice day. Let's get to the following slab and I'll quote words from Bin Liner: "The most famous punk band of all has to be the Sex Pistols - but if your home was in the High Wycombe area you'll know that there was one other band that were just as good - Xtraverts from Buckinghamshire!! Back in 1977 the entire World was overcome with safety pin wearing, Mohican sporting Punk Rockers. Xtravert by name and oh boy - Xtravert by nature. Eventually splitting in the early 80s after their lead singer went to prison, they left behind them a torrent of local graffiti, a following that were lost without their local heroes and a complete unreleased LP, their finest moment, left to gather dust -disgraceful. That long lost album is now finally here, complete with free souvenir bin liner bag to the first 500 people who bought the vinyl album. On April 4th 1997 the band got together for the first time in almost twenty years - much had changed - the bass player is now female and other band members sport backgrounds such as ABH charges, appearances on stars in their eyes (Billy Idol) and membership of Matt Bianco - the sound however, was still there though and the crowd loved it!" Now on to the announced vinyl rip I wanted to do this week, enjoy the music!

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KSU - s/t LP 1989

Debut record by this punx on Pronit and KSU is one of the oldest Polish bands, founded in 1977 in the southeastern town of Ustrzyki Dolne (in the Bieszczady Mountains). According to its founder, Eugeniusz Olejarczyk, the band was the fruit of listening of radio stations from Western Europe, in which several punkrock songs were played. Young listeners from Ustrzyki decided to play covers of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, and in 1978 they came up with the name KSU, which comes from car licence plates, issued by the Krosno Voivodeship authorities for vehicles from Ustrzyki Dolne. With new name came new music - KSU began playing songs inspired by Sex Pistols, Damned, and UK Subs.

In 1980, due to friendship with Kazimierz Staszewski, KSU travelled across Poland to Kolobrzeg, to participate in the New Wave Festival. The band was dubbed a sensation, but soon afterwards its members were one after one called up to the Polish Army and KSU ceased to exist. In 1988 KSU recorded a LP "Pod Prąd" ("Against The Flow"), which was warmly welcomed by its fans. Currently KSU consists of four members, including Olejarczyk. Its lyrics are in most cases written by Maciej Augustyn, the brother of former singer Bogdan "Bohun" Augustyn. A total of twelve albums were recorded and the band's last album Two Nations, released on December 8, 2014 and to my knowledge still active. Thirteen decent songs with a pinch of Oi!

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GOLLYWOG - Fredagskväll 7'' 1978

Now a small highlight from the Swedish province of Jönköping county and the historic province of Småland. Gollywog was a punk combo from Tranås and were actice 1977-1980 and consisted Håkan (vocals), Peter & Jois (guitars), Anders (bass), Tomas (drums), and this is their very rare, much sought by collectors, only fuckin' record which they released by themselves in an edition of 300 copies. The five were inspired by the Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, Ramones and others and most of their own songs (and there were a lot) were mainly written by singer Håkan. In their short livespan they played a handful of gigs in Tranås, Malmö, Motala and Stockholm. In 1980 the band broke up and Håkan became singer in the Nässjö band Rottweiler. The A-Side is a superb catchy number with killer guitars and if they had released an album in this style, it would have been on everyone's lips, one hundred percent. The flip is a solid rockin' track, equally brilliant. TOP record!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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BANDAGE - Republik EP 1978 + Populär 7'' 2015

You take what you have, Bandage thought and sat in a boy's room in the mid seventies and tried to mimic the hard rock bands with the help of acoustic guitars. In April 1977, they thought it was time to buy real gadgets, and in the same vein they heard the Ramones, The Clash and Sex Pistols and decided that it was punk they wanna play. In July the same summer, they did their first gig at a farm party in Tyresö. The set was then Peter (vocals/bass), Jan (guitar) and Stefan (drums). A little later Stefan #2 joined as 2nd guitarist. Then the high school began to approach the end and for a couple herded the lump. When Bandage rented a studio in May 1978 to record this four-song EP, it was already almost clear that the band would be closed down. Although the studio technician had to decide, it had not become a record. He suggested a little tentatively that it might be enough if they used the recording as a demo ... But a record it was, though so terribly punk it didn't sound. "Republik" their attack on the royal house, and closing "Sven Brutal" were pretty tough songs, while "Jesus Lever" could be mistaken for a religious song. However, they assured it was irony. And speaking of irony, they changed the lyrics from "Republik" to "Diktatur" instead of emphasizing the irony. But according to David Halvars, it was marginally more people who understood the irony in the text line “Dictatorship - We should have that! Dictatorship - We want that! Dictatorship - We shall have that in our country ”. Over time, a new bandage emerged. With only Peter and Jan from the original set, they continued for a while before the band went to the grave for good. (Info from the book Ny Våg)

In 2015 Slyngel Rekords dug out two more lost nuggets from the Stockholms and released the single in an edition of 300 copies in purple vinyl. They exchanged a few members, including David Halvars from Bitch Boys in the band, and recorded a demo in 1980 that sounded much rougher than the EP. The demo ended up on the radio program New Vags editorial which meant that the Swedish people got to experience a catchy punkpop song named "Populär". What should I report further? This is excellent stuff whereby I like the new single almost better but that's like everything, a matter of taste and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this fantastic stuff - they only existed about a year and never get outside Stockholm.

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THE LUCHS BROTHERS - Kill Me I'm Rotten 7'' 1978

Debut killer 7Inch by the Luchs Brothers, Kurt (vocals), Marv (guitar), Gary (drums), from Chicago on Retread Records. The Luchs Brothers originally started out as a comedy troupe and they really had only one track that was in the punk vein, but since it was well-known at the time they are lumped into the punk scene. Kurt remembers "Kill Me I'm Rotten was written in ten minutes after my first exposure to the voice of Johnny Rotten, which I thought was one of the funniest things I'd ever heard, and to which I wanted to pay some kind of comedic homage. To this day, I'm amazed at how little press is devoted to the humor of the Sex Pistols and how seriously everybody takes punk. The idea that this man has made a living from singing all these years is, to me, hilarious. Still, I'm a big fan and I've enjoyed pretty much everything he's done. We soldiered on for a while with our comedy shenanigans. Our second record was unfortunately a major abortion, an attempt to combine songs with comedy bits, and it all sounds pretty awful today except for one cut, Luchs Brothers On Parade, which is nice but too long. I wouldn't stand by anything else on the record except for the ingenious homemade packaging, which is based on Chinese propaganda of the period, and includes things like a political playlet, etc." In 1979 a second 7Inch "We Are Farmers & Comedians Too" followed which moves more into comedy. Both songs are pretty cool stuff!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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ACME ATTRACTIONS - Anyway 7'' 1980

This rare piece is a smiley and again 'many words for your further education which all from the booklet of the CD compilatin 'Terelene Boys from 2013 on Only Fit For The Bin Records: Acme Attractions released one great single in 1980 called "Anyway" and listen to the lyrics of this song, it is all about the late great 'Keith Moon'. The band did follow up this debut release and backed another local artist Bonnie Parker a year later. After watching the Damned in a local pub in Luton back in 1976, members of this band were mesmerized with their performance and one stand-out moment was when the Damned were being heckled by members of another local band THE Q-TIPS about their ability of playing, Dave Vanian jumped off the stage and poured a pint of beer over their heads. Then a month later they witness the Sex Pistols @ the Queensway Hall in Dunstable. THAT WAS IT! The seed was sowed and Jim and Dave knew they had to be part of this new vibrant scene and Acme Attractions were born (even though at this point it was only a dream).

Now in the bands own words: "Born from an after pub party, while miming in a front room to whatever song was on The threat of "Now let’s see if you can go out and form your own band" Was the only challenge we needed! Within six months of that night the guitarist had self-taught himself and the bass player the basic skills required to form the band (three chords). (I got my first real six strings, played it till my fingers bled). It was happening! (Me and some guys from school we got a band and we tried real hard). After months of rehearsing, it was time to show the local pub that we didn’t want to listen to 'Smoke On The Water' or 'Johnny B. Goode' anymore. It was our time. Having been influenced by the attitude of the Pistols, Clash, with undercurrents of the Who, Mott the Hoople and some self-penned songs thrown in as well Acme Attractions played their first gig. The local interest had drawn big crowds which lead to the band being banned from their first three gigs. This was not caused by violence, but due to over crowding resulting in damage caused to chairs, tables & beer glasses. The band were forced to seek bigger venues and halls this resulted in Acme Attractions being the only local band being able to fill "The Royal Hotel", the biggest of all the venues, not once but twice.

Not all gigs were as successful as that though as the landlord of The Kingsway Tavern Would tell you.  After refusing to leave the stage one night until their set was finished, The landlord locked the band in the dressing room with his Alsatian dog. Threatening not to pay them as they had played over the permitted time. His error had been locking the door, as he had no escape himself When we threatened to break his legs. The bands popularity and reputation was growing and growing and after progressing through a Battle of the Bands competition at the expense of the singer losing a front tooth, the band was making their name. Local newspapers were wanting to know the story behind the band and local promoters were asking them to headline the local festivals such as The Luton Carnival and the Marsh Farm Festival. The money gained through gigging went towards hiring a studio and the costs of producing 1.000 copies of their first single "Anyway"/"Never Again". EMI had tried to claim a percentage of the copy rights through a distribution deal that did not suit the band, so the band decided to distribute it themselves. This is why most copies of the single have tipex on the label over the line that mentions EMI. After continuous gigging and some radio air time, The band had reached a point that required more commitment To take them to the next level.

They had travelled as far as they could have on the local scene. A meeting had been called to discuss the next stage of progression and It was decided it was time for Acme Attractions to come to an end. It was not the end of the band however as the remaining members continued under various names such as 'English Dream' and 'Pressure'. With the new name of 'Pressure', it wasn't long before being signed to Anagram Records a division of Cherry Red Records. Releasing a further two 12Inches and touring the country before finally calling it a day back in 1983.

You can find the band on two splendid compilations, Raw And Rare British Punk Volume 4 (coming soon) & Bored Teenagers #11, as well. Great Stuff!

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LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH - Open Your Eyes/Live @ My Father's Place 1982

Excellent soundboard recording @ My Father's Place/New York from October 1982 and I must confess: I didn't know them at all! Well, I think it's a good choice to start with a live record and this unofficial release (200 copies) fits perfect. A bit wiki info: "The Lords Of The New Church were an English/American gothic rock supergroup with a line-up consisting of four musicians from 1970s punk bands. The band originally comprised vocalist Stiv Bators (Dead Boys), guitarist Brian James (The Damned), bassist Dave Tregunna (Sham 69) and drummer Nick Turner (Barracudas). Launched in 1981, the band released three studio albums and three live albums prior to their dissolution in 1989. During this time, they underwent several line-up changes. More melodic and slickly produced than most punk, their music both reached a broader audience than that of many bands in the genre and alienated hardcore punk fans. The band presented a stylized tribal identity around their appearance and their music that fans embraced: the writer Dave Thompson asserts this represented "the first time since the Sex Pistols' Bromley Contingent fanbase [that] a band had succeeded in grafting its own identity onto its audience without first paying obeisance to the gods of highstreet fashion. Their stage antics became notorious early in their career, with Bators stunts on one occasion reportedly resulting in his clinical death for several minutes." Thirteen crackers in a fine sound quality, ned übel!

New Church/Question Of Temperature/Girls Girls Girls/Livin' On Livin'/Eat Your Heart Out/Russian Roulette/Fortune TellerOpen Your Eyes/Little Boys Play With Dolls/Holy War/Portobello/Apocalypso/New Church (Encore)

- Great Thx to Reinhard -

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RATTUS - WC Räjähtää 1982

In the early hour I welcome the weekend with fast hardcore from Finland and we put on the debut album by Rattus on Poko Records. Formed in the spring of 1978 by Jake and Vellu who started to play mostly English punk bands songs just for fun (Sex Pistols, The Damned, Clash,etc.). A few weeks later they asked Jake's brother Tomppa to join the band and so he did. The name Rattus was taken from the first album of the Stranglers, "Rattus Norvegicus". Rattus is latin meaning a rat,a very big rat. In the early days the band did shows only in their hometown and near of it. Fourteen heart attacks in less than twenty minutes, must I have say more? They made numerous albums, singles & represented on countless compilations and they're still touring, for example 2020 at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, UK., definitely worth a trip. - Now quickly to bed, in eight hours I'm back on my bike, good night Europe!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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HOMY HOGS - Nöje För Nekrofiler 1981

Swedish '77 hardcore now from Bro near Stockholm: the Homy Hogs are not just cartoon charracters, but were a teen brats punk band from Upplands-Bro (where Joakim Lindegren grew up) and existed from 1979-1982 which belong to the pioneers of Swedish hardcore-punk, though they also played a more regular punk rock before and after. The band members will occur, even as individuals, especially as Nandor/Krystmarodören, Porra/Dildo and LT/Leffe. When the Sex Pistols start 1977 the punk explosion they changed their name to The Kuk. Since the interest died out, but in 1979 LT and Kirran joined country events, better known as Shakin 'Hitler & The Kuk. Soon they changed their name to Little Lenin & the Homy Hogs and then it was shortened to just Homy Hogs. It took until the following year before they could collect themselves for the first public gig. The hard workouts with friends in the rehearsal did Homy Hogs ready for an unsuspecting audience. The band felt that punk has become too wimpy and now it was high time to annama the hard line. The only album, Nöje För Nekrofiler was released via No Records (200 copies) and dealt to both; the American hardcore as well as British anarcho-scene. According to LT was Homy Hogs uncompromising for punks, and when it was realized that the band would still explode did its utmost to Smash Overdose-songs would be as uncompromising as possible. The band plays a lot of intoxicated gigs between 83 to 86, LT and Gordis founded meanwhile Werewolf On Wheels - the natural extension of Homy Hogs. A newly produced series about the band produced by Lindegren in 2008 to number 5 of the cult punk fanzine Sika Äpärä, Lindegren has also made the covers of Homy Hogs LP "Werewolves On Wheels" and single "High Drive & The Rokker Triplane". A reunion for one concert as Werewolves On Wheels @ Gärdet Festival 1991 and one as Homy Hogs at a private party @ the Apromus 1992 were held. Highlighted here the cover versions of "I Wanna Be Your Dog & Why Don't We Do It In The Road"... a fuckin' great record!!

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SEX PISTOLS - Kill The Hippies In Atlanta 05.01.1978

Pretty cool shot of the Sex Pistols which was recorded in Atlanta/Georgia @ the Great Southeast Music Hall on 5th January, 1978 and released via Big Music. It was their first show in the states and we all know, nine days later they gave their last concert in San Francisco and then the band split, making their ways separately to Los Angeles. McLaren, Cook and Jones prepared to fly to Rio de Janeiro for a working vacation. Vicious, in increasingly bad shape, was taken to Los Angeles by a friend, who then brought him to New York, where he was immediately hospitalised. Rotten flew to New York, where he announced the band's break-up in a newspaper interview on 18 January. I think the states came too early and the people there were not ready for the shockers from Europe but Malcolm saw it differently and so the tragedy took its course. Anyway, I still enjoy their music and without them Punk would not be what it is today.

God Save The Queen/I Wanna Be Me/Seventeen/New York/Bodies/Submission/Holidays In The Sun/E.M.I./No Feelings/Problems/Pretty Vacant/Anarchy In The U.K./No Fun/Liar

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ZERO BOYS - Vicious Circle 1982

I'm in a hurry so I don't talk much but use the information I have: the Zero Boys are a hardcore punk quartet from Indianapolis, Indiana fronted by Paul Mahern. Other members include bassist Scott Kellogg, drummer Mark Cutsinger and guitarist Dave Lawson. When he walked into Keystone Recording in Indianapolis on August 18, 1981, Zero Boys singer Paul Mahern told producer/engineer John Helms he wanted his band's debut LP to "sound like the Germs' GI," released two years prior. "He really nailed it!" laughed Mahern recently. Much agreed: Few records have ever sounded this whizbang buzzing. And whereas GI transformed an appallingly shambolic L.A. band into a shocking powerhouse, Vicious Circle merely snared a smokin' Indiana band that'd been rehearsing five hours a day — so tight they spun this corker out in just two days, by recording live together.

It still bursts out of your speaker on CD as it did off a needle when released on Nimrod records 19 years ago. Terry Hollywood's razor-zinging guitar and Tufty Clough's Speedy Gonzalez' bing-bing-bing bass playing (fastest fingers in the Midwest) burn like blowtorches, and drummer Mark Cutsinger plays like he IV'ed amphetamines. Mahern sings like a hurrying rabbit, rapid-firing words about assassinations/celebrity-shootings, anti-nostalgia, having a "high time," and, well, doing speed. Whereas other records of the new hardcore scene tried to sound tough, this was like Johnny Thunders, Sex Pistols, Ramones, Dictators, and S.L.F. on 45, smiling like dopes. Reissued with two bonus tracks from the same session, Vicious Circle remains a vicious pleasure of frenzied attitude, chops, speed, tight playing, and rocket-launching zeal. (Jack Rabid)

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MÜLLSTATION & DOG FOOD FIVE - Split LP 1998

Schlemihl Records released this proper record in a limited of 1000 hand-numbered copies with eight rare songs from Müllstation and Dog Food Five. Müllstation is a punk band from Eisleben in Saxony-Anhalt and were founded in 1980 in the GDR and is now one of the longest active Punkbands in the East, members are Harty Sachse ("Steve Aktiv", vocals) and Frank Baur (bass), at first the band used pots as drums and a homemade guitar. In 1982 the band met in front of the Palace of the Republic in East Berlin with two presenters from the NDR (Tim Renner and Thomas Meins) and these two took Müllstation and the band Menschrock for recordings to Hamburg and these were played on 20 September 1982 in the broadcast "Club" on NDR 2. Over the years they often played in the Christusgemeinde in Halle along with bands such as Schleim-Keim, Wutanfall, Größenwahn and Betonromanze. Susanne "Susi" Horn on bass as well as Volker Eschke and Mike Beelitz on guitars joined the band later. Resolution 1989 and Reunion in 1990, Frank Baur took over the guitar parts and Ralf "Ralle" Brauer came as new drummer, but was soon by Roy Hoffmann and finally in 1995 by Jürgen "Grahli" Grahl (previously at Abraum and NFP) replaced. At the end of the 1990s Melanie Stütz joined the band as new bassist, since 2002 then Alex Zschaege (previously KVD, NFP). Frank Baur and Jürgen Grahl are also working with non-Müllstation member Toralf Schwarz still in a side project called The Morlox. The Morlox play surf with Slavic influences.

Dog Food Five was founded in the summer of 1991. At a time when punk was considered a deadly serious, ideological issue, there were five mid-twenties, old friends and then something of a veteran of the local band scene, in a rehearsal room in Kassel in Hessen together to make songs in the style of Sex Pistols, Adverts & Dead Boys. Their quasi-postmodern look at the role models was perhaps a bit more distant than was the case with other punk bands of the time. So they had no problems with it, Rockabilly elements, Sixties Garage, New Wave, Surf & Psychedelic Rock in their music. To make the whole thing clear, they decided to Suits and ties, which amazed an audience that was accustomed to bands in military trousers, T-shirts and Lumberjack shirts to see. In the end, Dog Food Five, with its wild, raw sound, was also the purist of the punk scene convince and also attract people to punk concerts, which actually did not have so much to do with such music. Dog Food Five soon had a record deal and four albums, a split LP and a hand appeared in the next nine years full of singles. Bands like Müllstation and the Shocks covered their songs. In addition, Dog Food Five played hundreds of concerts in half of Europe, the last Christmas 2000 in their hometown Kassel. At that time, playing with stereotypes had become a cliché. Punkattitude was meanwhile become mainstream. Every second band musically relied on the punk and garage canon and suits on stage Punk clubs were such a common sight that nobody could shock them anymore.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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